Baghdad launched Operation Promise of Good in late July to take on al-Qaida and other militants in Diyala. The incursion sparked controversy surrounding perceived aggression by Shiite-led military forces on Sunni and Kurdish groups in the area.
Iraqi Maj. Gen Abdul al-Kareem Khaleef, Dilaya's police chief, met with Sons of Iraq leader Abu Talib to assure him that his Sunni force was still needed for security operations in the area, the U.S. military's Stars and Stripes newspaper said Friday.
Talib expressed his support for the operations, though he said he was concerned about unwarranted arrests conducted by Iraqi police.
"Please tell the Iraqi police to stop chasing me," he said, using a translator.
U.S. officials said they wanted to incorporate elements of the Sunni force into the national security forces, but noted their future was uncertain and integration was slow.
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